Shelter of His Wings, Devotional #6

Written by Jane Josephs

One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek; that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord…
–Psalm 27:4

I was captivated by the rhythm of the ocean in the background as Pastor Sean presented his message this past week. The melody of the waves crashing against the shore; the tranquil color of the sky. The assurance that we, mere mortals that we are, can truly see God. Of course, many of us say that we feel His presence most in the great outdoors. The granite face of a mountain reminds us that He is our Rock, our Strong Tower in times of need. The warmth of the sun assures us that He is Light and Life. But this past Saturday, I saw Him not in the face of a cliff, but in the face of a family I hadn’t seen for more than a year.

They make their home in Fresno now, but I first got to know Kurt and Lynn Hildebrandt and their children, Kiani and Kurt Jr., several years ago when Kurt and Lynn signed up to come to a study at PLC on Pastor Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life. That time together was a game-changer for all of us as we pressed in to living our lives more devoted to God than ever before. Eventually Kurt led some of our adult classes, and Lynn became the co-leader of a moms’ group that has changed and evolved but still meets today (on Zoom, of course)!

Kiani has graduated from college by now and is soon to move to Ireland to pursue her master’s degree in communications. Kurt Jr. has become a tall, handsome young man with a winsome smile who will be a sophomore this year at Westmont College. Seems like they grow and change and reach maturity in the blink of an eye! In Psalm 27, King David expresses what we often find too difficult to put into words. He yearns to see God, to gaze on His beauty. What face did he imagine, I wonder, in his moments of longing? Was it the Lion of Judah? (Rev. 5:5) The bright Morning Star? (Rev. 22:16) The Rose of Sharon? (Song of Songs 2:1) Or could it be that the people he served showed him the face of God every day, in a myriad of ways? We are, after all, made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). I can’t speak for David, but for me, when I see Him in the face of my friends, my love deepens, expands, and grows – for them and for Him…even if we do have to keep our social distance!